‘Supergirl’s First Trailer Looks Alarmingly Similar to ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ – Is This a Problem?

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The first trailer for the Supergirl movie is out, and while it seems promising, it feels surprisingly similar to Guardians of the Galaxy. It’s not based on the Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow comic, and doesn’t capture the unique style of that artwork. Instead, the trailer has a strong resemblance to the Guardians films, even though James Gunn isn’t directing. This is a bit concerning, as it suggests his creative influence is present even on a DC movie he’s not involved with.

It’s not necessarily a problem that Supergirl feels reminiscent of Guardians of the Galaxy, and it’s easy to see why. Guardians of the Galaxy was a hugely influential sci-fi film, and many others have since borrowed its style. Its playful approach to a usually serious genre has appeared in other franchises, like Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, and DC even tried it with Suicide Squad. The original Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow comic was also created after Guardians of the Galaxy became popular. But, is a movie so similar to James Gunn’s most famous work the best direction for the new DC Universe, especially as it’s the first film he isn’t directing himself?

‘Supergirl’ and ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ Similarities


Warner Bros.

It is easy to see the similarities between Supergirl and Guardians of the Galaxy.

  • Both films feature protagonists (Supergirl/Star Lord) who wear trench coats and carry around music players with classic orange headphones that are stuck in a state of arrested development following a tragedy in their youth (Krypton’s destruction/death of Peter Quill’s mother).
  • Both Supergirl and Guardians of the Galaxy put an emphasis on a classic needle drop in their trailer. Guardians of the Galaxy used Blue Swede’s 1974 “Hooked on a Feeling” while Supergirl uses Blondie’s 1980 hit “Call Me (Theme for American Gigolo)”.
  • Features a CGI animal, as Supergirl sees the return of Krypto, and Guardians of the Galaxy had Rocket.
  • The alien bar in Supergirl and the set-piece teased in the trailer look very similar to the Act II set-piece on Knowhere in Guardians of the Galaxy.

The look of Supergirl is deliberately rough around the edges, featuring alien planets that feel more like scrap heaps than perfect worlds – a style it shares with Guardians of the Galaxy. While Guardians drew inspiration from the well-worn future seen in the original Star Wars films, Supergirl aims for the energy of 1980s rock music, particularly the rebellious spirit of punk and a touch of hair metal.

The alien planets in Supergirl often feature bright, neon colors that remind viewers of Guardians of the Galaxy. Guardians was celebrated for bringing back the vibrant, colorful sci-fi style popular in the 1950s, after decades of more muted tones in the genre. To see how much Guardians impacted sci-fi, consider the films released just before it – in 2013, movies like After Earth, Elysium, and Oblivion all used a stark, black-and-white color scheme. Guardians clearly had a big influence on sci-fi in movies, TV shows, and comics. It’s a bit of a letdown, though, that the Supergirl TV series visually resembles this style more than the Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow comic book does.

The comic Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is visually stunning, largely due to the dynamic art by Bilquis Everly and the vibrant colors of Matthew Lopes. The movie trailer captures some of this aesthetic, mirroring the comic’s gritty and textured look. However, the trailer doesn’t quite replicate the comic’s bold color scheme – the bright oranges, greens, golds, and pinks are toned down and appear somewhat dull or unclear in the film’s visuals, though traces of them are visible in the set design.

This initial trailer offers a glimpse of the film’s style, though some of the more unusual visuals from the comics aren’t fully realized yet, likely because the special effects are still in progress. Adapting the comics’ look to live-action requires compromises, as a direct translation could end up looking overly reliant on CGI, similar to films like Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania or Alice in Wonderland. The sets and costumes could be even more vibrant, fully embracing the 1950s retro-futuristic style seen in Guardians of the Galaxy. This distinctive visual approach is shared by both James Gunn and Supergirl’s director, Craig Gillespie.

We Cannot Downplay ‘Supergirl’ Director Craig Gillespie’s Involvement


Warner Bros.

The upcoming Supergirl movie will be the fourth installment in the DC Universe, but it marks a shift in creative control. Unlike the previous projects – Creature Commandos, Peacemaker Season 2, and Superman – Supergirl isn’t being directly written or directed by James Gunn. While Gunn remains a producer and head of DC Studios, offering some creative guidance, the goal with Supergirl, along with future releases like Clayface and Lanterns, is to allow different filmmakers to bring their own vision to the shared universe. Director Nia DaCosta described her Marvel film, The Marvels, as firmly Kevin Feige’s vision, and DC Studios aimed to avoid that. However, with Supergirl appearing visually similar to Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy, some are questioning whether he’s repeating the same pattern.

The new movie Supergirl, produced by James Gunn, shares a lot of similarities with his earlier work, and also feels reminiscent of Man of Steel. Man of Steel borrowed heavily from the visual style and mood of Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy, particularly Batman Begins, though it still clearly showcased Zack Snyder’s unique filmmaking style. Supergirl is similar – while it has elements of Guardians of the Galaxy, it also echoes the style of director Craig Gillespie’s films.

James Gunn revealed that Gillespie’s I, Tonya was his favorite movie of 2017, which certainly is saying something considering the amount of great films that came out that year (including Gunn’s own Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2). I, Tonya not only focused on a troubled female protagonist but had a grimy, grungy aesthetic to it that is present in Supergirl. Gillespie also directed Cruella, the Disney live-action reimaging of Cruella de Vil starring Emma Stone. Set in London in the late 1970s, Cruella had a punk-rock aesthetic that bled through in the production design, costuming, and even music choices. James Gunn might be known for his needle drops, but Cruella featured a wide variety of needle drops, including Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good”, the Rolling Stones’ “She’s A Rainbow”, and a cover of the Stooges’ “I Wanna Be Your Dog.”

As a fan, I’ve noticed a lot of what makes James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy so unique also shows up in Craig Gillespie’s films. It makes sense why Gunn would reach out to him – they clearly have a similar style. But it’s important to remember Gillespie brings a lot to the table too. Honestly, Supergirl feels just as influenced by his other work like I, Tonya and Cruella as it does Guardians. It’s a shame those other films didn’t get the same massive audience as something in the MCU, because Gillespie’s vision is definitely there.

The new movie Supergirl seems like a fun watch, and early reactions hint it will be another success for the DC universe. However, it probably won’t be the dramatic stylistic overhaul that James Gunn has been talking about. That bigger change for the DCU might actually come with Lanterns and Clayface instead. We’re hoping Supergirl captures the same fresh energy and introduces its heroine, Woman of Tomorrow, to a wide audience, just like Guardians of the Galaxy did.

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2025-12-12 01:19